Arrival and information

San Isidro’s main bus terminal is adjacent to the town’s central market at Av 6, C 0/2, but most buses from here head to local destinations. To and from San José, TRACOPA buses stop at the terminal on the Interamericana and Calle 2, while MUSA buses pick up passengers across the road. The Banco Nacional on the main square changes travellers’ cheques and has an ATM, as does the Banco de Costa Rica on Av 4, C 0. There are two internet cafés on the main square (BTC Internet and Brunca Café Internet) and you’ll find the post office on C 1, Av 6/8.

Information about the Parque Nacional Chirripó and Parque Internacional La Amistad is available from the regional office of the national parks service (Mon–Fri 8am–4pm; t 2771-3155, e [email protected]) at C 2, Av 4/6, south of the Parque Central. It’s worth stopping off here to ask about current conditions and, if possible, to make reservations for Chirripó. On C 4, Av 1/3 are the offices of CIPROTUR (t 2772-5911, w www.ecotourism.co.cr), a nonprofit organization, with a useful website, that promotes ecotourism mainly in the Zona Sur: its helpful staff can book hotel rooms and answer queries.